Custody control for elevators whereby cars are stopped and doors held closed until externally opened



J. E. MAGEE Jan. 10, 1967. CUSTODY CONTROL FOR ELEVATORS WHEREBY CARS ARE STOPPED AND DOORS HELD CLOSED UNTIL EXTERNALLY OPENED Filed Feb. 12. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. (fol/1v 5%655.

Jan. 10, 1967 J E MAGEE 52,2973109 CUSTODY CONTROL FOR ELEVATOI KS WHEREBY CARS ARE STOP AND DOORS HELD CLOSED UNTIL EXTERNALLY OPENED 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 12. 1963 &

DCLG 5/355 q I DCa {I B DO/la (mew Dga [fnu u- D03: DC Za I in an INVENTOR. JZWi/VE/WIGEE.

United States Patent This invention relates to control systems for a single elevator and for a plurality of elevators operating as a group.

In present day non-attended elevators, response of the elevator cars is dictated primarily by riding passengers and waiting passengers. In attendant operated elevator cars, response is more directly subject to dictates of the attendant even though the system may be a semi-automatic system. In certain instances, it may be advantageous to automatically restrict response of all cars in a group to provide immediate travel of all cars to a common landing to be held there with doors closed until caused to open selectively by authorized personnel.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a simplified control system, which I call a custody control, for one or more elevator cars which will expedite travel of all cars to a designated landing without making intervening service stops.

It is also an object of the invention to arrange such control to restrict passenger transfer to the designated landing.

, It is a further object of the invention to enable such passenger transfer at the designated landing to be discretionary with personnel external to the elevators.

In the preferred embodiment, actuation of a lobby key switch initiates custody control. Normal group con trol of cars at the upper terminal is overridden to start such cars down. Ascending cars are caused to reverse at nearest floors permitting normal slowdown without opening doors at such reversal points. Stopped cars with doors opening complete the opening cycle but then immediately close their doors. Such cars with door-s fully open have their doors immediately closed. Response of all cars, once in motion, is voided for all car or landing calls and door closing torque is increased and retained to prevent manual opening of car doors. Upon arrival at the lobby, each car is prevented from travelling away from the lobby floor and the increased door closing force is retained to avoid opening thereof until selectively released at the control station which may be at the lobby floor. Where car call registration indicators are furnished, both registration and indication functions preferably shall remain active, only response to associated registered calls being voided. Where car position indicators are furnished such units in the cars preferably shall be extinguished but preferably counterpart lobby units shall be retained effective.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing-s in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic wiring diagram of custody control initiating circuits and certain circuits of FIG. 1 of the Patent No. 2,944,634 as altered in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic wiring diagram of circuits of FIG. 2 of Patent No. 2,944,634 which have been altered in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic wiring diagram of door control circuits incorporating the custody control circuits of the invention.

Since custody control, by its nature, is a control which modifies the operation of conventional control systems, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the custody control system of the invention may be used with various types of dispatching and control systems now used in the art including dispatching and control systems for single elevator car installations. For purposes of simplification the invention will be described by reference to, and operation in conjunction with, the system of control described in my Patent No. 2,944,634. It will be understood, however, that the description of the invention in conjunction with the control system of said patent is merely for purposes of illustration.

In the description hereinafter given, it will be assumed that the elevator system comprises the circuits, controls, mechanisms, etc. set forth in said Patent No. 2,944,634 modified as set forth hereinafter to include the circuits and controls of the present invention. Accordingly, the description of the operation of the system set forth in said Patent No. 2,944,634 will not be repeated herein, and the description and drawing will herein be limited to the modifications of the system set forth in said Patent No. 2,944,634 required to adapt my present invention thereto and to certain portions of the system of said Patent No. 2,944,634 with which the modifications cooperate. For convenience, the symbols, diagram conventions, etc. employed in said Patent No. 2,944,634 will be used herein.

Electromagnetic switches employed in the preferred embodiment disclosed herein and not shown in said Patent No. 2,944,634 are as follows:

GPControl modifying switch GPXDoor operation modifying switch C Door closing switch DCLDDoor status switch DO-Door opening switch A three car elevator group is given as a specific example in said Patent No. 2,944,634 and in the preferred embodiment described herein it will be assumed that a three car elevator group is also involved. However, for the purpose of simplifying the disclosure, the operation of only the switches and circuits for car a will be fully described, it being understood that similar controls and circuits are provided for cars b and c of the three car group.

Additional contacts are employed on certain electromagnetic switches of said Patent No. 2,944,634 and are utilized in circuits of the preferred embodiment of the invention. In each case, reference letters of the activating coils shown in said patent are employed in association with numerals, such contacts being as follows:

Coil of Patent No. New Contact(s) Circuits and components shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, other than those identified above as being added, are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, and described in the specification of said Patent No. 2,944,634.

The switch GPK preferably is a manually operable conventional switch which can be operated only by means of a key so as to avoid operation thereof by unauthorized personnel, but may be operated automatically by a conventional security alarm system, such. as those commonly used in banks or to protect various areas. Although the switch GPR may be located at any desired place and may, for example, be located at the starters position in the lobby of the building where the elevators are located, preferably it is located at a position where it is generally inaccessible to the public, such as in the ofiice of the build ing security personnel or guards.

It can be seen from FIG. 1 that actuation of manual v key switch GPK causes actuation of a GP switch for each from manually forcing the car door open.

car a, b and subject to an associated normally closed manual switch GPR. -The resulting operation will be described for car a, it being understood similar response of cars b and c in the assumed three car bank will occur.

Contacts GPla opening prevent operation of car call pick-up switch coil XCa. Contacts GPZa, closing cause setting of the SRa relay, and thus starting of the car a to be directly dependent only on release of NTa switch, which colses NT3a contacts, and hence, independent of normal group control action determined normally by circuits in said patent intermediate contacts NT3a and the feeder. If desired, contacts GP3a may be provided, and upon closing, afford means for rendering the emergency stop switch ESa, ineffective once the car is in motion, contacts H8a being then closed.

In FIG. 2, contacts GP4a closing, upon inception of custody control, insure reversal of car a by XHa actuation, if car a ascending, contacts UPSa being closed. Contacts GPSa closing cause actuation of non-stop switch N81: to void response of car a to landing calls. Contacts GP6a in shunting relationship to condenser Q will be seen to erase timing in release of switch NTa for immediate starting through NT3a contacts of FIG. 1 following completion of the door closing operating cycle. Contacts GPXla, delayed in operation with respect to switch GPa, as will be described further, when separated, prevent reversal to upward travel upon return of the car to the lobby.

FIG. 3 includes conventional elevator door operation drive elements DMFa and DMAa, the element DMFa being arranged for continuous excitation through resistor DMFR and the element DMAa being reversibly energized through DO and DC contacts, for respectively opening and closing the car doors. Switches DOa and DCa will be seen to be responsive to mechanical limit switches DOLa and DCLa, respectively, contacts of which are actu ated, by the door opening mechanism, to their open condition at the respective limits of door travel. Primary control of initiation of either switch action can be seen to be governed by status of the SRa contacts, the SRSa contacts being closed upon car stopping, with HlSa contacts closed, and the SRSa contacts being closed on dictation of car starting. Switch DCLDa is seen to directly reflect the status of DCLa limit contacts.

Upon inception of custody control, contacts GP7a open to prevent initiation of door opening. If opening has just previously been initiated, however, the cycle is sustained through self-holding DOla contacts and GPXZa contacts, which will remain closed to completion of the door closing cycle.

If the car doors are closed when the GP8a contacts close, switch GPXa and its delayed-release capacitor QGP are energized through the closed DCLDla contacts. If passenger transfer is taking place this action is delayed to completion of door closing, with consequent release of switch DCLDa.

When switch GPXa is actuated, its contacts GPXSa and GPX6a close and in conjunction with previously closed contacts GP9a and GPltla, respectively, cause excitation of the door operator motor armature DMAa for door closing torque. Contacts GPX4a closing concurrently strengthen excitation of the door operator motor field to increase torque sufficient to effectively prevent a passenger Contacts GPX2a and GPX3a exercise control following arrival of the car at the desired terminal landing, as will be described further.

To complete an understanding of the invention the sequence of operation for car a, as typical, will be described, assuming initially that car a is ascending between stops when key switch GPK is closed to cause actuation of switch GPa, and also switches GP]: and GPc, thus initiating custody control.

Contacts GP4a closing complete a circuit for actuation of switch XHa, through the UP8a contacts, closing in conplete the junction with upward travel. As described in said patent, XHa acts to initiate a stop at the landing approached and causes reversal to downward direction at that point. With such reversal, contacts UP8a open to release XHa.

At the reversal landing HlSa contacts closing would normally initiate a door opening action by completing a circuit for DOa switch through closed contacts SR6a and closed limit contacts DOLa. With contacts GP7a separated, however, this is prevented. Also, with limit contacts DCLa separated, the DCLDa switch coil is not energized. Through its closed DCLDla contacts the closed GP8a contacts complete a circuit for actuation of switch GPXa. Its GPXSa and GPXda contacts, through closed GP9a and GPlOa contacts cause the door operating motor armature to be energized for closing torque. Contacts GPX4a also close to strengthen the door motor field and thus increase the effective torque to prevent manual opening of car doors from within the car.

Closed contacts GP6a cause retention time of switch NTa to be minimized. Its release, as described in said patent, completes a circuit for actuation of switch SRa set to start downward travel of car a. Closed contacts GPZa insure this independent of terminal disposition of car a by voiding dependence on the normal dispatch system at that point.

During descent of car a the open GPla contacts prevent stops in response to registered car calls. Closed contacts GPSa energize switch NSa to open its NSla contacts, FIG. 2 of said patent, and similarly prevent stops in response to registered landing calls.

It will be assumed, for purposes of illustration that after custody control is initiated, all the cars will be stopped at the lobby terminal, but it will be apparent that another landing may be selected. Upon arrival at the lobby terminal the terminal limit stop devices are effective, but open contacts GPXla prevent reversal for travel in an upward direction. The GPa and GPXa contacts governing the door operator motor retain preventive torque against manual opening of the car doors.

Switches GPRa, GPRb and GPRc are manually operable switches, which may also be key. operated switches, and they permit, respectively, selective opening of the doors on cars a, b and 0. Such switches preferably are located in positions where the operator thereof can observe the doors of the cars at the terminal selected for the stopping of all cars, e.g. the lobby terminal. However, they may be located at other positions if desired, particularly if there are communication facilities permitting communication between persons at the selected terminal and persons at the positions of such switches.

At the discretion of authorized personnel key switch GPRa is opened to release switch GPa. Contacts GP8a open but the capacitive charge of capacitor QGP retains switch GPXa operated for a predetermined time period. Contacts GP9a and GPlOa opening disconnect the door motor armature DMAa. Contacts GP7a closing comcircuit for actuation of door opening switch DOa through closed H13a and SR6a contacts and the closed limit contacts DOLa.

The hoistway doors at the selected terminal may be opened manually or may open in a conventional manner with the car doors. At any time while the car doors are opening the cycle can be terminated and reversed to closing by re-energizing switch car GPa with manual switch GPRa. Contacts GP7a would immediately open to terminate the opening cycle since DOla holding contacts are ineifective while contacts GPX2a remain separated. Contacts GP8a closing would re-energize switch coil GPXa through. closed contacts GPXSa which are now etfective to shunt the now open DCLDla contacts. Contacts GP9a and GPl0a would again cause closing energization of the door motor through sustained contacts GPXSa and GPXda, and with the increased torque resultant from sustained closed status of contacts GPX4a. During such manipulation of the GPRa switch, open GPXlla contacts prevent upward departure of car a.

If car a was travelling downward when switch GPK was initially actuated, response would follow the latter portion of the sequence just described, that is, without the action of switch XHa described above. If it was in the process of transferring passengers, contacts GPX2a would be closed to permit the DOM contacts to sustain opening door action to the full open position independent of the separation of GP7a contacts.

It is apparent to those skilled in the art that where car position indicators are furnished in an installation, an additional pair of normally closed GPX contacts (not shown), for each car, may be employed to interrupt the common feeder to such car position indicator lights located within the car and to extinguish such lights. It is also understood that where applicable codes permit, the

' GP3a contacts would be used, subject to the H8a contacts,

as in FIG. 1, to nullify the effect of the car emergency stop switch, ESa, once the car was in motion.

It is readily seen from the foregoing that with similar circuitry for cars I: and c, the operation of captive control insures expeditedreturn of all cars to the selected terminal regardless of the prior status of each car as to motion, direction or position, and without stop recognition by any of the cars of registered landing calls or car operating panel demands, such as car calls or other service demands which may be registered within a car. In conjunction with such accelerated return, doors of each car, once closed, are prevented from opening automatically or being opened manually until permitted at discretion of authorized personnel at the custody terminal or elsewhere. Such discretionary door operation is then fully responsive to control of such personnel as to extent of opening and reclosing. Upon availability of any one of the cars following passenger discharge such car may be released from custody control selectively, by keeping its GPR switch open, to then permit its attended use by authorized personnel.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the elevator art that various changes in the specific embodiment illustrated and apparently modified embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from its scope. It is intended that all material contained in the preceding description or shown on the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic elevator system comprising a plurality of elevator cars operating between a plurality of floors, each car having a door which opens and closes and car call registering means therein for registering calls for service to said floors by a passenger therein, hoistway doors at a plurality of said floors providing access to said cars, floor call registering means at a plurality of said floors for registering calls for service at said floors, means for opening and closing the car doors, means for opening and closing the hoistway doors, normal control circuit means controlled by said call registering means for normally causing said cars to move between said fioors and to stop at floors for which calls are registered and controlling said door opening and closing means for normally causing the door of a car stopped at a floor and the hoistway door providing access to said last mentioned car to open automatically thereby to permit passengers to enter and leave the stopped car, the combination therewith of manually operable, overriding custody control means external to said cars for modifying the operation of said normal control means comprising means connected in circuit with said normal control means for causing all the cars which are not at a predetermined one of said floors to move to and stop at a predetermined one of said floors, and for preventing the stopping of cars in response to car and floor calls at floors other than said one floor, means connected in circuit with said normal control means for preventing the opening by said normal control means of the car doors of the cars stopped at said one floor and the hoistway doors providing access to the stopped cars, and manually operable door opening means for selectively and individually opening said doors at said one floor whereby when the custody control means is operated, passengers in the cars and persons at the floors are prevented from causing movement of the cars to, and stopping of the cars at, floors under control of the car call and floor call registering means and are prevented from opening the doors, passengers in the cars thereby being confined in the cars until said last-mentioned door opening means is operated.

2. An automatic elevator system comprising a plurality of elevator cars operating between a plurality of floors, each car having a door which opens and closes and car call registering means therein for registering calls for service to said floors by a passenger therein, floor call registering means at a plurality of said floors for registering calls for service at said floors, means for opening and closing the car doors, normal control circuit means controlled by said call registering means for normally causing said cars to move between said floors and to stop at floors for which calls are registered and controlling said door opening and closing means for normally causing the door of a car stopped at a floor to open automatically thereby to permit passengers to enter and leave the stopped car, and manually operable, overriding custody control means external to said cars for modifying the operation of said normal control means comprising means connected in circuit with said normal control means for causing all the cars which are not at a predetermined one of said floors to move to and stop at said predetermined one of said floors and for preventing the stopping of cars in response to car and floor calls at floors other than said one floor, means connected in circuit with said normal control means for preventing the opening by said normal control means of the car doors of the cars stopped at said one floor, and manually operable door opening means for selectively opening said doors of the cars stopped at said one floor whereby when the custody control means is operated, passengers in the cars and persons at the fioors are prevented from causing movement of the cars to, and stopping of the cars at, floors under control of the car call and floor call registering means and are prevented from opening the doors, passengers in the cars thereby being confined in the cars until said lastmentioned door opening means is operated.

3. An automatic elevator system comprising a plurality of elevator cars operating between a plurality of floors, each car having a door which opens and closes and car call registering means therein for registering calls for service to said floors by a passenger there, hoistway doors at a plurality of said floors providing access to said cars, floor call registering means at a plurality of said floors for registering calls for service at said floors, means for opening and closing the car doors, means for opening and closing the hoistway doors, normal control circuit means controlled by said call registering means for normally causing said cars to stop at floors for which calls are registered and controlling said door opening and closing means for normally causing the door of a car stopped at a floor and the hoistway door providing access to said last mentioned car to open automatically thereby to permit passengers to ener and leave the stopped car, and manually operable, overriding custody control means external to and remote from said cars for modifying the operation of said normal control means comprising means connected in circuit with said normal control. means for preventing the stopping of cars which are not at a predetermined one of said floors in response to any floor and car calls and for causing all the cars to move to and stop at said predetermined one of said floors, means connected in circuit with said normal control means for preventing the opening by said normal control means of the car doors of the cars stopped at said one floor and the hoistway doors providing access to the cars stopped thereat and for increasing the force required to open said doors manually and manually operable door opening means for selectively and individually opening said doors at said one floor whereby when the custody control means is operated, passengers in the cars and persons at the floors are prevented from causing movement of the cars to, and stopping of the cars at, floors under control of the car call and floor call registering means and are prevented from opening the doors, passengers in the cars thereby being confined in the cars until said last-mentioned door opening means is operated.

4. In a control system for an elevator car, said car having a door which opens and closes and said car operating between a plurality of floors, said control system having means in said car operable by a passenger therein for registering car calls, means at said floors for registering floor calls, means for normally causing said car to stop at said floors in response to said floor calls and said car calls and means for normally causing said door to open and close automatically at a floor at which said car stops, the combination therewith of custody control means external to said car for causing said car to stop at one of said floors and to remain at said one floor with its door closed and restrained from being opened either automatically or manually regardless of the registration of car or floor calls, and door releasing means manually operable from externally of said car for selectively releasing and opening the door of said car whereby when the custody control means is operated, a passenger in said car and persons at the floors are prevented from causing movement of the car to, and stopping of the car at, floors under control of the car call and floor call registering means and are prevented from opening the car door, passengers in said car thereby being confined therein until said last-mentioned door releasing means is operated.

5. The control system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said custody control means includes means which when said car is not at said one floor causes said car to travel to said one floor without stopping at other floors for which there are registered car or floor calls.

6. The control system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said custody control means includes means for increasing the force maintaining said car door closed when said custody control means is operated.

7. In a control system for an elevator car, said car having a door which opens and closes and said car operating between a plurality of floors and the hoistway for said car having hoistway doors at the floors served by said car which open and close to provide access to said car, said control system including means in said car operable by a passenger therein for registering car calls, means for normally causing said car to travel to and stop at floors selected by said car call registering means and means for normally causing said car door and the hoistway door at the floor at which the car is stopped to open automatically to permit passengers to leave or enter the car, the combination therewith of custody control means external to said car for causing said car to stop at one of said floors and to remain at said one floor with at least one of said cars and the associated hoistway doors closed and restrained from being opened by said means for opening said doors automatically, said custody control means including means for interrupting the normal operation of said means for causing cars to travel to and stop at floors other than said one floor selected by said car call registering means and the normal operation of said door opening means, and door releasing means manually operable from externally of said car for releasing and opening each restrained door to permit a passenger to leave or enter the car at said one floor, whereby when the custody control means is operated, a passenger in said car is prevented from operating the car and the doors under control of the car call registering means and is confined in said car at said one floor until said door releasing means is operated.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,308,221 1/1943 Waite et al. 187-29 2,468,289 4/1949 Bruns 187-29 2,573,932 11/1951 Santini et a1. 187-29 2,578,431 12/1951 Kieling 187-29 2,602,524 7/1952 Shirley 187-29 2,701,033 2/1955 Chiselbrook 187-29 2,728,417 12/1955 Burgy 187-29 2,775,312 12/1956 Thurston 187-29 2,776,732 1/1957 Eames 187-29 2,862,576 12/1958 Nikazy et al. 187-29 2,944,634 7/1960 Magee 187-29 2,968,364 1/1961 Robertson 187-29 ORIS L. RADER, Primary Examiner.

T. LYNCH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC ELEVATOR SYSTEM COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ELEVATOR CARS OPERATING BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF FLOORS, EACH CAR HAVING A DOOR WHICH OPENS AND CLOSES AND CAR CALL REGISTERING MEANS THEREIN FOR REGISTERING CALLS FOR SERVICE TO SAID FLOORS BY A PASSENGER THEREIN, HOISTWAY DOORS AT A PLURALITY OF SAID FLOORS PROVIDING ACCESS TO SAID CARS, FLOOR CALL REGISTERING MEANS AT A PLURALITY OF SAID FLOORS FOR REGISTERING CALLS FOR SERVICE AT SAID FLOORS, MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING THE CAR DOORS, MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING THE HOISTWAY DOORS, NORMAL CONTROL CIRCUIT MEANS CONTROLLED BY SAID CALL REGISTERING MEANS FOR NORMALLY CAUSING SAID CARS TO MOVE BETWEEN SAID FLOORS AND TO STOP AT FLOORS FOR WHICH CALLS ARE REGISTERED AND CONTROLLING SAID DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING MEANS FOR NORMALLY CAUSING THE DOOR OF A CAR STOPPED AT A FLOOR AND THE HOISTWAY DOOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO SAID LAST MENTIONED CAR TO OPEN AUTOMATICALLY THEREBY TO PERMIT PASSENGERS TO ENTER AND LEAVE THE STOPPED CAR, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF MANUALLY OPERABLE, OVERRIDING CUSTODY CONTROL MEANS EXTERNAL TO SAID CARS FOR MODIFYING THE OPERATION OF SAID NORMAL CONTROL MEANS COMPRISING MEANS CONNECTED IN CIRCUIT WITH SAID NORMAL CONTROL MEANS FOR CAUSING ALL THE CARS WHICH ARE NOT AT A PREDETERMINED ONE OF SAID FLOORS TO MOVE TO AND STOP AT A PREDETERMINED ONE OF SAID FLOORS, AND FOR PREVENTING THE STOPPING OF CARS IN RESPONSE TO CAR AND FLOOR CALLS AT FLOORS OTHER THAN SAID ONE FLOOR, MEANS CONNECTED IN CIRCUIT WITH SAID NORMAL CONTROL MEANS FOR PREVENTING THE OPENING BY SAID NORMAL CONTROL MEANS OF THE CAR DOORS OF THE CARS STOPPED AT SAID ONE FLOOR AND THE HOISTWAY DOORS PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE STOPPED CARS, AND MANUALLY OPERABLE DOOR OPENING MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY OPENING SAID DOORS AT SAID ONE FLOOR WHEREBY WHEN THE CUSTODY CONTROL MEANS IS OPERATED, PASSENGERS IN THE CARS AND PERSONS AT THE FLOORS ARE PREVENTED FROM CAUSING MOVEMENT OF THE CARS TO, AND STOPPING OF THE CARS AT, FLOORS UNDER CONTROL OF THE CAR CALL AND FLOOR CALL REGISTERING MEANS AND ARE PREVENTED FROM OPENING THE DOORS, PASSENGERS IN THE CARS THEREBY BEING CONFINED IN THE CARS UNTIL SAID LAST-MEMTIONED DOOR OPENING MEANS IS OPERATED. 